The effects of mining on the environment of high islands : a case study of gold mining on Misima Island, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

@ Lrj @) ENVI RONMENTAL CASE STUDIES souTH PACTFTC REGTONAT ENVTRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP) sourH PACrFrc coMMlssloN (sFc), NoUMEA NEW CAITDON|A produced with financhl assistance fiorn the UNITED NAT|oNS ENVTRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) South 3t".$,.5 THE EFFECTS OF MINING ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF HIGH 'ISLANDS: A CASE STUDY OF GOLD MINING ON MISIMA IS- LAND, PAPUA Nf,W GUINEA BACKGROUND Papua New Guinea is currently un- dergoing a minerals exploration boom, especially for gold, and more than l0 potentially economic deposits have already been located. The geological and environmental settings in which these gold deposits have been found are very like those in other Pacific countrieso especially the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, and it is certain that these countries will eventually face dif- ficult planning and decision-making situations similar to those currently being experienced in Papua New Guinea. Like all other mineral development projects, those in Papua New Guinea have associated problems. There has been